OSU President Ray to receive honorary degree from University of Portland

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University President Edward J. Ray will receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Portland on Sunday, May 4, at UP’s annual commencement ceremony.

The ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. at the Earle A. and Virginia H. Chiles Center on campus, located at 5000 N. Willamette Blvd. Tickets are required for the commencement ceremony; information is available at http://bit.ly/1gS1AtH

Ray has been president of OSU since 2003. Since he arrived, the university’s enrollment has grown from 18,974 to more than 28,000 students, and research revenue increased from about $156 million annually to nearly $263 million last year. Oregon State successfully reached the $1 billion milestone in fund-raising during The Campaign for OSU – one of just two Northwest schools to achieve such a goal.

The OSU president also has helped lead an effort to transform the state’s first branch campus – OSU-Cascades in Bend – into a four-year institution.

Ray has been a leading national advocate for access to higher education and recently was elected vice chair of the board of directors of the Association of American Colleges and Universities. He will chair the board in 2015.

“The University of Portland is one of the most successful private schools in the region, so this is quite an honor for me, which I view as a collegial tip of the hat to Oregon State University for effectively serving the people of Oregon during challenging times,” Ray said.

“Commencement is always one of the most enjoyable and rewarding days of the year and I look forward to sharing this special day with the UP graduates.”

About Oregon State University: OSU is one of only two U.S. universities designated a land-, sea-, space- and sun-grant institution. OSU is also Oregon’s only university to hold both the Carnegie Foundation’s top designation for research institutions and its prestigious Community Engagement classification. Its more than 26,000 students come from all 50 states and more than 90 nations. OSU programs touch every county within Oregon, and its faculty teach and conduct research on issues of national and global importance.